Pollen season is making a comeback as the Bud Pokémon takes over Pokémon TCG Live starting on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. PST, with log-in goodies, new animations, and more abounding during the Budew Year event. A Budew takeover is hardly different from the norm, though, as this little bud proved to be especially impactful in 2025, sprouting a variety of new strategies since making its debut in the Scarlet & Violet—Prismatic Evolutions expansion.
The 30-HP 
Pokémon was so popular that its Item-locking Itchy Pollen attack turned out to be the most-used attack in Pokémon TCG Live last year, with over 31 million uses (and 951,000 of those attacks ending in a KO!). With stats like those, it’s only natural that our little hero was crafted by players over 425,000 times and rooted in 1.9 million unique decks (18 percent of all decks played) as the fourth most-played Pokémon in 2025!
To celebrate Budew’s grand accomplishments this year as the little bud that could, players will receive a set of Budew-themed deck accessories and fashion items for their avatar upon logging in during the Budew Year event. You’ll notice that Pokémon TCG Live’s client got the pollen season memo too, with a new “Budew’s Pond” Battle Board, whimsical lobby music, and special visual effects for Itchy Pollen further celebrating our little buddy.
Budew can find its way into about any deck thanks to Itchy Pollen requiring no Energy, but if you’re looking for a different way to harness its Item-locking power, look no further than the latest Trainer Trial: Blooming Buddies Battle. Only common and uncommon Pokémon will be permitted in this Trainer Trial using the Expanded format, so pull out that green thumb and grow a new strategy or two. There are plenty of cool Pokémon and support for them too—from Bug Catching Set to Forest of Vitality—so get planting with the seeds of innovation.
We hope you’ll enjoy the event and love the Bud Pokémon as much as we Budew, Trainers!